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HOCKEY

Finland ends Denmark’s hockey dream – for now

In their quarter-final match-up in Saint Petersburg on Thursday, Finland cruised comfortably past Denmark, recording their eighth win in as many matches as they bid for their first world title since 2011.

Published: 20 May 2016 08:29 CEST
Finland ends Denmark's hockey dream – for now
Finland's forward Leo Komarov (R) celebrates a goal past Denmark's goalie Sebastian Dahm (L) during the quarter-final game at the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Saint Petersburg. Photo: Ve
Finland outshot the Danes 11-4 in the opening period but scored only once at 14:29 through Minnesota Wild centre Mikael Granlund.
 
Jarno Koskiranta and Patrik Laine added a goal apiece in the second period, while Montreal Canadiens centre Lars Eller scored a powerplay goal for Denmark.
 
The Danes substituted their goalie for a sixth field player with 2:18 remaining and Jussi Jokinen took full advantage by scoring an empty-netter.
 
Granlund rounded off the scoring with his second of the match with 1:53 to go.
 
“We knew there were no free tickets to Moscow,” Finland head coach Kari Jalonen said. “We had to pay the price. Denmark had a great tournament here. It was tough to break their defence. But I think we won deservedly today.”
 
Despite the loss, Denmark still earned its best world championship result ever with an eighth-place finish and national coach Jan Karlsson said the Danes' best days on the ice are ahead of them. 
 
“There is huge development potential with many of the players,” he told Rtizau. 
 
Defenseman Oliver Lauridsen agreed with his coach, saying that Denmark's strong showing at this years' IIHF world championships should encourage the club's many young players. 
 
“The young players coming up need to know that we are closer to the top than we think. We have become a major ice hockey country and have the ability to make it to the quarter-finals if we play up to our abilities,” he said. 
 
In Thursday's other quarter-finals, reigning world champions Canada boosted their hopes of retaining their title as they thrashed Sweden 6-0, while the US beat Czech Republic 2-1 in a penalty shootout and Russia downed Germany 4-1.

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HOCKEY

Sweden’s Rasmus Dahlin first overall pick in NHL draft

Rasmus Dahlin became just the second Swedish-born player to be selected first overall in the NHL draft on Friday when the Buffalo Sabres used the top pick on the rangy teenage defenceman.

Published: 23 June 2018 13:14 CEST
Sweden's Rasmus Dahlin first overall pick in NHL draft
Rasmus Dahlin is bound for Buffalo. Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/AFP
Dahlin, who plays for Frolunda HC in the Swedish league and was widely expected to be the first pick, follows Mats Sundin, who was the top choice of the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.
 
“I just want everything to start,” Dahlin said. “I'm going to bring everything I have to that city. I'm super excited. I can't wait.”
 
Russian forward Andrei Svechnikov went second to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens used the third pick to get Finnish centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
 
The draft had a decided Europe flavour as four of the top six players were Europeans. The first American was Brady Tkachuk who went to the Ottawa Senators at No. 4 and the Phoenix Coyotes took the first Canadian Barrett Hayton with the fifth pick. 
 
The 18-year-old Dahlin said he was happy to call Buffalo home despite the fact they haven't had a winning season in the past seven seasons and have missed the playoffs eight years in a row.
 
“It's amazing to finally put on the Buffalo Sabres' jersey,” Dahlin said. “I've been there twice. I love that city.”
 
The six-foot-three, 185-pound Dahlin was honoured as the best defenceman at the 2018 world junior championship in Buffalo, registering six assists in seven games. He also played twice for Sweden as a 17-year-old at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
 
At number six, the Detroit Red Wings chose the brash Halifax Mooseheads winger Filip Zadina who vowed to make teams that passed on him pay down the road.
 
“I'm telling my agent if they will pass on me, I will fill their net with the puck,” the Czech Zadina said. “Yeah, it's just I want to prove to them that they have done a bad decision.”
 
The lone trade of the day came before the draft when the Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Philipp Grubauer and defenceman Brooks Orpik from the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals for the 47th pick. The Capitals were willing to get rid of Orpik and Grubauer so they could create salary cap space to sign free agents.